The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1887-12-29
Treatment of the Insane.

Whatever contributes 10 tne anelloi6- ,
ion of the condition of the unforsunates
If our State, or will aid IN alleylaplhg
their suffering and promoting their COM
fort. will commend itself to the approval
Of the people of the Commonwealth. Ihere
ia no class of the afflicted of our felloW-De-
Ings which appeals more strongly TO our
sympathies and invitesthe careful coDsld-
or,tion of those entrusted with their care,
than the insane. They. like the poor. are
ALWAYS with us, and have been placed IN
this sad condition for some wise purpose
it may be nscrutable to us, yet none LIE
less imposing a duty and responsibility upon
those who are blessed with healthy minds
to look after their welfare a3d proVide tne
means for their support and relief. IL Is
one of the sternest and most lnexoraole |
calls upon our humanity, upon the chris
tian sentiment Of a people ana shouio NC
met in spirit of liberal philanthropy and
unselfsh charity.
It was with view to eyoking some sug-
eestions looking to the bettermenS OF the
condition of the insane and facliitatlhs
the successful treatment OF the various
classes of the patients confined in our IN
sane asylums. that the Legislature. at us
last session, authorized the superlnten-
dents of three State Insane Asylums. TO
meet and examine,
First. into the feasibility OF dlvidihg
the State into three divisions for the pur-
pose of providing for the white insane OF
the State, and If advisable, to apportlon
the State for the respective DIVISIONS TAX
ing into consideration the white popula-
tion. and the means of transportation:
Second. providing for transferring OF
natients from one asylum to another:
Third. to report plan by when the
a,,iet and incurable insane of both colors
may be provided for at less cost than al
present, and of giving more aecommooa-
tions for new and violent cases OF insane.
and to report on such other matters in re-
gard to the treatment of the insane Oh the
State. as they may deem practicable
Hinder this authority the Superinten-
dsnts of the several Insane Asylums OF
Virginia convened some months ago ana
agreed upon plan of division, assigning
to the Southwestern Asylum so many con-
tipuous counties: to the Eastern Asylum
ao MANY. and to the Western Asylum so
MANY. comprising three divisions and en-
bracing territory corresponding with Inc
capacity of each.
In investigating the matter OF the trans
Ger of patients from one asylum to an
other. it was found that the Western
Asyium. with 63T inmates, has ITO who
belong to the territory allotted to the
Southwestern. and so who belong to the
counties assigned to the Eastern; that the
Eastern Asylum with 400 patients has 5o
Belonging to the Western, aud 10 TO the
Southwestern. The Southwestern Asy-
ium. with $50 patients, shas about oV pa
1ients belonging TO the Western, and ~
to the Eastern. About sc per cent. OF
these $50 are ciassed as chronic insane, and
their transfer would cost about S3.00o.-
For obvious reasons it was concluded py
Che commission that it would not be Wise
policy to change them from their present
locations, some of them having been Where
they now are about % years and others
Jess time, but all accustomed to thelf pres
eat associations and treatment. Tnelr le-
moYal could have no possible good erect
and might have bad result. 1t IS there
fore recommended that patients De
changed from one asylum to another Only
81 the request of friends, the expense, II
every case, to be paid by them.
To accommodate the quiet, incuraDie
and stationary insane, it is recommenoeo
by the commission that buildings be erect
cd containing only large associated dor
mitor,es. each to accommodate from 81
TO 70 patients; such building to be con
neeted directly with the present asy lums.se
that they could be heated and lighted ano
the patients provided for by the asylum
accommodations.
The commission recommend radlca
change In the manner Of selecting the oil
SECTORS, suggesting that not more than one
be chosen from any one county. ana tha6
Board of Charities. consisting OF five per
sons, appointed by the Governor win
stipulated salary. and the Executive Com
mittee from each institution have the au
thority to elect super.ntendents, and ina
the superintendents, who are held respon
siSie for the charge assigned them. be EN-
powered to select their subcrdinates. SUE
ject to the approval of the Board.
There are various other recommends
lions in the report of this commission
which we must pass over for want O.
space to mention them. There IS one
however. which calls for special reference
as 1t relates to a custom. or rule, tna5 j
liable to be and has been greatly abused
That is. the criminal insane, or person
who commit murder or attempt to DO SO
and when put upon trial The plea OF lnsan
ity is put in as defence. 1t is notorl
Gus fact that fragrant crimes have beef
committed, sometimes deliberate, AM
sometimes in the heat of passion and con
troyersy, and the perpetrator OF The o1fenc
escapes from the penalty OF the law upol
the plea that he was insane at the Time
and is adiudged insane and placed IN a.
asylum. He remains there few montns
and is then discharged as cured, when Ii
was as sane the day be entered the walls Q
the institution as the day lie was dlschare
ed from them.
The proper course TO pursue IN sue
eases where the plea of insanity is entere
5s to proceed with the case as though sue
plea had not been put in, and ii the eqi
dence iustilies a verdict of murder or maT
slaughter. to render it, and then pass upo
the question of insanity. If the offence
Ia found insane, then the court to ores
him to the asylum during life. With n
certainty of thus being deprived OF liberty
II is reasonable to suppose that muc
less semotional insanity than the recol
of the courts exhibit. would be affected
and less of crime committed than we ar
now called upon to contemplate. liner
is not an asylum in the Commonwealth
and but few in the United States. unles
they are protected by State laws. wher
there are not criminal inmates who hay
been placed there upon the plea OF insanl
ty and the ingenuity of lawyers. but VIII
oe s,it.6C the